Curious as I have yet to hook-up a fifth wheel (I will in a couple of weeks). I saw a video on the RV Travel.com site that said to connect your 7 pin connector to the TV before trying to hitch-up. He said this way you could use trailer brakes to keep from rolling. Being the newbe that I am to fifth wheels, I'd like to get your opinon on this, what say you?

Curious as I have yet to hook-up a fifth wheel (I will in a couple of weeks). I saw a video on the RV Travel.com site that said to connect your 7 pin connector to the TV before trying to hitch-up. He said this way you could use trailer brakes to keep from rolling. Being the newbe that I am to fifth wheels, I'd like to get your opinon on this, what say you?

Thanks
Reck

I do this frequently when hitching up if wheels are not blocked.
Especially at home as its not blocked there.

I *always* have my wheels chocked if the camper isn't attached to the truck. I trust my chocks.

BUT- I can definitely see the value in hooking up the umbilical cord before hitching up.

__________________
2012 Ram 3500 DRW/crew cab/long bed/4x4/4.10 gears pulling a 2017 Spartan 1245 by Prime Time
Checkout my site for RVing tips, tricks, and info | My family and I have fulltimed since June 2015

Not a bad idea, but I would find it awkward to reach down to my brake control to activate the trailer brakes, while at the same time looking back to hit the fifth wheel pin.
I use Bal X-chocks on my camper tires, and that serves the same purpose.

Curious as I have yet to hook-up a fifth wheel (I will in a couple of weeks). I saw a video on the RV Travel.com site that said to connect your 7 pin connector to the TV before trying to hitch-up. He said this way you could use trailer brakes to keep from rolling. Being the newbe that I am to fifth wheels, I'd like to get your opinon on this, what say you?

Thanks
Reck

I guess this would work if you needed extra chocking. We have never found it necessary due to having the 4 wheels chocked and the front landing gear down when hooking up.

One possible problem I could see is if for any reason you have to pull forward to make another attempt to hook up and you forget to disconnect the cord before doing so - well you can visualize what might happen.

One possible problem I could see is if for any reason you have to pull forward to make another attempt to hook up and you forget to disconnect the cord before doing so - well you can visualize what might happen.

Oh, hey - I just did that MONDAY. Went to pull the truck forward after parking the camper and watched both my emergency breakaway and umbilical cord pop out.

I was just having one of those trips...

__________________
2012 Ram 3500 DRW/crew cab/long bed/4x4/4.10 gears pulling a 2017 Spartan 1245 by Prime Time
Checkout my site for RVing tips, tricks, and info | My family and I have fulltimed since June 2015

One possible problem I could see is if for any reason you have to pull forward to make another attempt to hook up and you forget to disconnect the cord before doing so - well you can visualize what might happen.

I will have to agree with B on this one... About the only hook up/disconnect "oops" I have committed in several years of towing a 5th wheel is driving away from the trailer after forgetting to unhook the cord... it plays havoc with the truck side connector.

Had to replace the whole truck side part of the connection. Imho, using the umbilical when hooking up *could* cause the problem B stated.

Oh, hey - I just did that MONDAY. Went to pull the truck forward after parking the camper and watched both my emergency breakaway and umbilical cord pop out.

I was just having one of those trips...

Much damage?

Remember some time ago there was a video showing a new style umbilical cord connector that was designed to release the cord if it was not pulled out even at a 90 degree angle? I never heard anymore about it and was skepical about that part.